Boston parking holidays are the 14 days each year when the city turns off its meters, letting you park in a metered space for free with no time limit. In 2026, that covers the usual federal holidays plus two Suffolk County dates most visitors have never heard of. The catch: “holiday” only applies to the meter and, on most days, to daytime street sweeping. Resident permit zones, hydrants, tow zones, and overnight sweeping stay fully enforced.
The 14 Parking Holidays in 2026
Meters are free with no time limit on each of the following dates unless noted:
- New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 19
- Presidents Day — Monday, February 16
- Evacuation Day — Tuesday, March 17
- Patriots Day — Monday, April 20
- Memorial Day — Monday, May 25
- Bunker Hill Day — Wednesday, June 17
- Juneteenth — Friday, June 19 (Sunday parking rules apply instead)
- Independence Day (observed) — Friday, July 3
- Labor Day — Monday, September 7
- Indigenous Peoples Day — Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day — Friday, December 25
Evacuation Day (March 17) and Bunker Hill Day (June 17) are Suffolk County holidays that count inside the city but are ignored by most of the state and the federal calendar. If you follow only the federal list, you’ll miss two free-meter days.
When a holiday lands on a Saturday, Boston observes it the preceding Friday; when it lands on a Sunday, the following Monday. That’s why Independence Day shifts to Friday, July 3 in 2026.1Boston.gov. City of Boston Holidays
What Actually Changes at the Meter
On every holiday listed above except Juneteenth, meters are free with no time limit. You don’t feed the meter, don’t open the app, don’t watch the clock. A space that normally costs money and cuts you off at two hours is yours for the day.1Boston.gov. City of Boston Holidays
Juneteenth is phrased differently. The city says “Sunday parking rules are in effect.” Meters are free on Sundays in Boston, so you still won’t pay, but Sunday rules can carry zone-specific or posted-sign nuances that the blanket holiday language does not.1Boston.gov. City of Boston Holidays
On an ordinary day, an expired or unpaid meter is a $40 ticket, and letting it sit past 21 days adds an $8 penalty. A parking holiday takes that risk off the table for the day.2Boston.gov. Parking Ticket Fines and Codes
Street Cleaning: Cancelled Some Holidays, Not Others
Most Boston parking holidays cancel daytime street sweeping, so you won’t get a $40 street-cleaning ticket for being on the wrong side of the road. But overnight sweeping runs on its normal schedule regardless of the holiday. If your block sweeps overnight and you leave the car parked, you can still be ticketed after dark.1Boston.gov. City of Boston Holidays
Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day break the pattern. Street cleaning runs a completely normal schedule on March 17 and June 17, day and night. The city treats them as meter holidays but not sweeping holidays. Check the posted signs on your block.1Boston.gov. City of Boston Holidays
Resident Permit Zones Are Still Enforced
Free meters do not mean free resident zones. The city’s guidance is explicit: on holidays, “all other parking regulations are still enforced.”3Boston.gov. How Do Parking Meters Work If a sign says “Resident Permit Parking Only” with a neighborhood name at the top, you need a valid permit for that neighborhood during the posted hours.
The fines are steep. A “Resident Permit Only” violation is $60, and parking without any valid resident permit or sticker is $100. Late penalties add $13 to $33 if you don’t pay within 21 days.2Boston.gov. Parking Ticket Fines and Codes If you’re visiting someone on a holiday, either grab a free metered spot or make sure you’re outside the posted restriction hours.
Rules That Never Take a Holiday
Safety rules are enforced every day of the year, holidays included. They carry the biggest fines and the highest towing risk:
- Fire hydrants: parking within ten feet is always illegal. $100.
- Handicap ramps: blocking a curb ramp or access aisle. $100.
- Handicap or disabled veteran spaces: no valid placard or plate. $120.
Any of these can bring a tow on top of the ticket.2Boston.gov. Parking Ticket Fines and Codes Double-parking, crosswalk clearances, posted tow zones, and bus stops also stay active. The holiday suspension is narrow by design: meter payment, meter time limits, and daytime sweeping on most days. Nothing else.
What a Tow Costs
Getting towed in Boston is expensive enough to wreck a day off. A city tow is $90 plus $3 per hour in storage, capped at $15 per day. A police-ordered tow handled by a private company from private property can run up to $132 for the tow and $35 per 24-hour period for storage, plus possible fuel and labor charges.4Boston.gov. How To Get Your Towed Car Back
The math stacks quickly. A hydrant violation with a tow is $100 for the ticket, $90 for the tow, and storage on top. A car left at a private lot across a long holiday weekend can pile up more than $100 in storage alone.
Snow Emergencies Override Everything
Winter holidays sometimes overlap with snow emergencies, and a snow emergency wipes out the holiday rules for parking. When the city declares one, cars on designated main roads are ticketed and towed so plows can clear the streets. Affected roads are marked by signage.5Boston.gov. What To Do With Your Car When It Snows
An emergency around New Year’s Day, Presidents Day, or Christmas can catch out-of-towners badly. Meters may be free, but your car will still be towed off a snow emergency route. The city pushes alerts through local media and its 311 system; sign up if you’ll be parking on the street from November through March.
Appealing a Holiday Ticket
If you get a ticket you believe was issued incorrectly on a holiday, you can appeal online, in person, by mail, or by video call if you qualify. You’ll need your name, mailing address, plate number, state of registration, and the ticket number. Photos help.6Boston.gov. How To Appeal a Parking Ticket
If the appeal is denied, you have 10 days to pay or to request an in-person hearing by calling 617-635-4410. Don’t miss that window. Late penalties on unpaid tickets range from $8 to $40 depending on the violation.6Boston.gov. How To Appeal a Parking Ticket The video option is limited to out-of-state drivers, people with disabilities, and anyone over 65.